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Painswick Rococo Garden

Painswick Rococo Garden is a unique and fascinating insight into early to mid 18th century English garden design. The only complete Rococo garden in England it dates from a brief period (1720 - 1760) when English gardens where changing from the formal to the informal. These Rococo gardens combined formal vistas with winding woodland walks and more natural planting. However Rococo gardens were so much more, their creators were showing off their wealth and including features that were both flamboyant and frivolous. The gardens featured buildings of unusual architectural styles, to be used as both eye catchers and view points. These gardens became almost regency playrooms, an extension of the house to be enjoyed by the owner and his guests. You can imagine the riotous garden parties that would have been held here.

At Painswick a charitable Trust is restoring the Garden back to how it was shown in a painting dated 1748. There are contemporary buildings, woodland walks, herbaceous borders, and a large kitchen garden all hidden away in a charming Cotswold valley with splendid views of the surrounding countryside.

The most famous feature of the Garden is the annual display of naturalised snowdrops which bloom in early spring. Look out for the unusual Anniversary Maze, planted to celebrate the 250 birthday of the Garden.

Why not try the Coach House Restaurant, which serves coffee, light lunches and teas, uses produce grown in the Garden, try out the Chocolate Courgette Cake!